On Tuesday, residents will be casting their votes on whether Missouri should provide funds to train additional home care aides, which would allow the state’s elder and disabled population to remain in their own homes. This is known as Proposition B or The Quality Homecare Act.

Polly Taylor

On Tuesday, residents will be casting their votes on whether Missouri should provide funds to train additional home care aides, which would allow the state’s elder and disabled population to remain in their own homes. This is known as Proposition B or The Quality Homecare Act.

This particular proposition is one which every adult child and person who is either physically challenged or of retirement age should pay attention to. With people living longer, and medical technology available to enable individuals to remain more self-sufficient to an older age, or those who just need a little assistance from time to time, this is a very important ballot issue.

There will always be persons who have disabilities, dementia or other physical and mental issues that do require living in either an assisted care or skilled nursing facility. However, if a person is coherent, able to make rational decisions, feed and clothe themselves, or needs just a little help with cooking, cleaning, or bathing, or perhaps their eyesight isn’t what it used to be and they are in need of a ride somewhere, Proposition B would allow them to remain living in their own.

The Quality Homecare Act would provide the necessary funding for additional training of current home care aides, to hire more aides. It would also allow those who ordinarily would not be able to afford to have a home care aide to do so.

The U.S. Supreme Court has mandated that all states provide services “in community settings rather than institutions when remaining in the community is appropriate, consistent with the wishes of the disabled person, and can be reasonably accommodated.” In this case, the word "disabled" also refers to senior citizens.

Proposition B also calls for the creation of the Missouri Quality Homecare Council, which would monitor the quality of home care aides being hired and trained, working conditions, and help to guard against possible abuse of the disabled and elderly. The Council would also engage in collective bargaining to see to it that home care aides are paid a wage, and receive benefits, consistent with the type of work they perform.

Basically, what this proposition does is allow disabled and elderly to continue living independently in their own homes at the state’s expense, and avoid being placed in institutions, unless they are in need of services greater than those provided by home care aides, such as skilled nursing. It allows the recipient of services from health care aides to stay in familiar surroundings, and the freedom to come and go as they please.

It is estimated that, if passed, it could cost the state over $500,000 a year. However, if federal grants become available the state could end up paying much less. Local governments would not bear any of the costs or savings from this proposition.